University of Houston System-Wide Tuition Increase

Caroline Fry

The Signal Staff

The University of Houston System Board of Regents approved tuition and fee rates for the 2010 fiscal year, effective fall 2009, during a special meeting held in June at the University of Houston.

Rates have increased by 3.98 percent system-wide and to date stands as the lowest increase in approximately a decade.

The tuition/fee rates were set after the 2009 session of the Texas Legislature in May 2009, where it was decided there would be no budget cuts.

“Each of the individual UH System universities recommend tuition and fees increases based on the recommendation of various committees and groups that include administrators, faculty, staff and students,” said William Staples, University of Houston-Clear Lake president, “These decisions are not taken lightly and recommendations for increases are discussed thoroughly before a decision is made.”

All UH campuses saw increases, though some more than others.  University of Houston saw an increase of 3.95 percent, University of Houston-Clear Lake increased 3.30 percent (the lowest increase of all campuses), University of Houston-Downtown saw an increase of 4.80 percent and University of Houston-Victoria increased 3.40 percent.

Students at UH will pay approximately $131 more per semester.  UHCL students will pay approximately $80 more per semester.  UHD students now pay approximately $101 more and UHV students are expected to pay $72 more per semester.

“Tuition varies among the individual universities because their operational, service programs, delivery needs differ from each other,” said Staples.

Other Texas universities that saw increases in tuition higher than the UH System include the University of Texas System with an increase of 4.95 percent and the Texas A&M System with an increase of 5.30 percent.

There is extended planning at UHCL set to prevent tuition from climbing too high.

“UHCL Administrators are always struggling with what is a good value for students,” said Darlene Biggers, associate vice president for student services at UHCL. “A conscious effort by UHCL Administration is made to keep tuition and fees at a very minimum and this is supported by the UH Board of Regents.”

Every year, a committee process begins in October to set the budget for the upcoming year.  These committees are made up of students, faculty and staff.  It is at each university’s discretion as to what the tuition should be.

Tuition/fee increases for FY10 are expected to generate an additional revenue of $1,451,593 at UHCL and will be used to support university priorities.  These priorities include faculty and staff compensation, new resources for enhanced student information systems, transfer student advising, programs designed to improve student retention, and new investments for the addition of full-time faculty and a commitment to the online program and course development.